“I hope you’re not opposed to creative uses for safety lights.”
Her eyes fluttered shut as he continued to stroke her. “Mmm. I…think…I’m fine with whatever you just said.”
She slid one hand down his back and around his waist to his hard cock. When her fingers wrapped around him and began stroking, he gave a little gasp of pleasure. “I’m going to forget how the fantasy goes if you keep doing that,” he said in a tight voice.
He slid the glow stick inside her, teasing her with it gently, then moved it back over her clit in a rhythmic motion. “Oh,” she gasped. “That’s…okay. I…can’t remember it, either.”
He watched pleasure play across her features in the moonlight. Having her this relaxed, this into the moment and him, almost erased the hollowness and fear that her relationship history had left him with. This was the Kylie he was fighting for.
“Mmm.”
“You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,” he murmured.
She opened her eyes and looked at him with a mixture of disbelief and gratitude.
“You are,” he insisted. “Inside and out.”
“You’re too much.”
“I meant inside as in, your personality, not your…but that’s beautiful, too,” he said, and she burst out laughing.
“Oh, this is so romantic,” she said when she recovered. “I never imagined being seduced with a glow stick.”
“Hey, it was working for a few minutes, wasn’t it?” He hadn’t intended laughter to be part of his get-busy-in-the-water scheme, but it seemed to be working if the intimate look in her eye was to judge.
“Yes,” she said. “This is wonderful.” But she couldn’t contain her laughter.
It only got worse when he put the glow stick between his teeth and wiggled his eyebrows at her. “Sexy, no?” he said around the tube of glowing green plastic.
“Wildly.”
“Am I ruining your whole fantasy?”
She stopped laughing and pulled him close, her fingers clasped around his shoulders. “Not at all. It’s like you said, the reality blows the fantasy all to hell. I never could have dreamed this up.”
She took the glow stick from his mouth and kissed him long and deep, while Drew cupped her ass with one hand and guided her to his erection. With little effort, he slid into her hot pussy, and the delicious sensation of it caused him to gasp against her mouth.
She moaned softly as he thrust deeper into her. He held the railing to the ladder as he found a rhythm, and she clung tightly to him, rubbing her clit against his body as they moved together.
He could feel her growing hotter and wetter around him, could feel her inner muscles tensing as she built toward a fast climax. It would be one of many for her tonight, if he had his way. He’d chartered the boat for the whole night, and he intended to make it around to the other side of the island in time for sunrise.
But right now, he lost all thought of past and future as his own body edged near climax. He heard himself gasping as his cock strained inside of her, then she came. Her body quaked against his, her insides growing even tighter and wetter, sending him over the edge on the heels of her orgasm. He spilled into her in great spasms, his body stimulated further by the ocean.
After a few moments, their climaxes passed, and he kissed her again, this time more gently. Now he was feeling the strain in his arms. She noticed his muscles quaking.
“Let’s get back in the boat before we get eaten by a shark,” she said.
And he watched her glorious backside as she pulled herself up onto the ladder. If he hadn’t been so spent, the sight would have made him instantly hard. He followed, and they went to a blanket he’d spread out on the deck and lay down on it, then gazed up at the stars.
“Thank you,” he said into the silence after a few minutes.
“What? No, thank you. It was incredibly sweet of you to put together this whole night for us, based on my silly little fantasy.”
“My pleasure. But I do thank you for giving us this time together. It’s been one of the best times of my life.”
He hadn’t meant to go all sentimental on her after his earlier outburst, but the stars, the night, the setting…there was no way around a bit of heartfelt sentiment.
But her relationship history and her continued reticence about any commitment to him held him back from what he most wanted to say—that he could have spent his whole life happily making Kylie’s fantasies come true.
16
“I TOTALLY beat your time!” Kylie insisted the next day as the cool air of the hotel lobby enveloped her. The spacious area was crowded with people checking in and guests chatting or reading in numerous chairs and sofas scattered about. In her sweat-soaked workout gear she felt a bit underdressed and disheveled.
Drew, walking beside her, shook his head. “You did not. I was an eighth of a second ahead of you, at least.”
“Liar!” she said and swatted him on the shoulder.
They’d just completed a sprint from the beach, and Kylie had been thoroughly impressed with herself for staying neck and neck with Drew the entire way. She wasn’t about to admit defeat. So what if he’d been a little tired from diving all morning—she had to have something to give her an edge against his stamina.
He caught her against his chest and held her with her arms pinned at her sides. “If you don’t admit I won, I’m going to tickle you until you pee on yourself, right here in front of all these genteel hotel guests.”
“It’ll probably embarrass you more than it’ll embarrass me. People will just wonder why you’re harassing that poor incontinent girl.”
“That’s it, you asked for it,” Drew said and dug his fingers into her rib cage.
Kylie squealed. She’d never been able to tough out being tickled. And she’d made the mistake of confessing to Drew recently how easily it made her wet her pants.
A few people in the lounge area cast disapproving glances at them.
“Okay, okay,” she said, gasping. “I give up!”
“You admit I won?”
“Yes…”
He stopped the tickling and loosened his grip on her enough that she could turn to face him. “Yes?”
She was going to tease him some more, but the happiness in his eyes struck her. The bleakness from last night had vanished and the result left her almost breathless. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.
He pulled her against him, and the kiss got a little more passionate than perhaps was appropriate for a public place. Kylie moaned softly at his tongue coaxing hers. Reluctantly she pulled away before anyone could tell them to get a room.
They already had a room, after all. They might as well go use it.
Before turning away, she placed one more light kiss on his lips as a promise of more to come as soon as they could get a little privacy. “Let’s go get naked,” she whispered.
As they headed toward the elevator, hand in hand, Kylie caught sight of a familiar face waiting in the check-in line. She stopped in her tracks.
She was screwed.
And not in any way she wanted to be screwed.
The entire passionate exchange with Drew had been witnessed by one of their superiors.
And not just any superior. Admiral Dunmead, the commander of the entire Naval unit she and Drew were assigned to was staring at them, a frown on his face. He looked different in his civilian clothes, but there was no doubting his identity.
Drew followed her line of vision. “Damn, isn’t that—”
“The admiral.”
“Oh, shit,” he said under his breath.
“We’d better go say hello,” Kylie said weakly, her heart sinking to her knees.
She should have known better. She had known better, but had chosen to ignore her own good sense. Hawaii was a frequent destination for military stationed in San Diego, for work and leisure. And many personnel stayed at this hotel that catered to the military. It was only a matter of time until they ran into a coworker. And they had�
��the worst possible coworker.
Releasing Drew’s hand, she marched across the lobby with him at her side. She supposed there was a small chance the admiral wouldn’t recognize Drew, given his lower rank and infrequent associations with the admiral. But Dunmead knew her.
She forced a calm expression on her face. If ever there was a time to invoke the ice queen, this was it. “Admiral Dunmead. It’s so good to see you, sir.” She extended her hand, and he shook it in his typical vise grip.
“Lieutenant Commander Thomas,” he said evenly. “What a surprise.” His gaze swept her head to toe and never had Kylie wished for the protection of her uniform more.
“And Ensign MacLeod, as well,” he said to Drew, shaking his hand in turn.
“Hello, sir. What brings you to Hawaii? Business or pleasure?”
“Business. But apparently you two are here for pleasure.” The admiral’s tone made it absolutely clear that he did not approve.
“We’re, um—” Kylie cleared her throat “—on mandatory leave. After the shooting.”
“Right. I remember discussing it with Commander Mulvany.”
“You were right. Getting off base was necessary. We—” What was she doing bringing Dunmead’s attention to the fact she was here with Drew? “That is, I have appreciated the leave,” she said, feeling like an idiot as she babbled on. “It’s been a healing time.”
“Lieutenant Commander, I’d like to speak with you privately when I’m done here.”
Kylie nodded, her mouth going dry and her stomach twisting into a knot. “Yes, sir. Should I wait here in the lobby for you?”
“That’s fine.”
With a nod, he dismissed them both. Kylie cast a worried look at Drew as they walked away. He sighed and shrugged.
“I guess I’ll wait for you in the room,” he said as they neared the lounge area.
She could only nod, her mind reeling with dread. After he left, she sat alone, waiting to hear her death sentence. This was her worst career nightmare come true—behaving inappropriately in front of her superior officer. She never should have agreed to this vacation. She should have stayed in San Diego, stayed on the job and dealt with her crap. She could have proven her worthiness as a Naval officer by persevering under pressure. She could have shown Commander Mulvaney that the little fainting episode was an anomaly and that she had control of herself.
Instead she’d let a moment of weakness dictate her actions. She’d jumped Drew at the first chance and continued to make one bad decision after another.
And she’d gotten so caught up in her lust for Drew that she’d let it happen, when it could have been prevented.
Damn it. Damn it. Damn it.
She wanted to kick herself.
What would she say to the admiral? Would she try to excuse herself? Plead temporary insanity? She hated the idea of making excuses.
No. She would face the music. She’d been wrong, she’d acted inappropriately and she deserved whatever punishment she got.
Agonizing minutes later, Admiral Dunmead finished checking in and approached. Kylie straightened.
“Lieutenant Commander, I assume you are aware that fraternizing with direct subordinates is conduct unbecoming an officer.”
Hearing the words spoken aloud was a shock to her system. “Yes, sir,” she said quietly.
“I confess, I’m surprised by your behavior. You have an exemplary service record and this is the last thing I would have expected from you.”
Under his sharp regard, Kylie’s insides shriveled. Once again she’d disappointed, she’d failed someone in authority whom she’d sought to impress. The weight of it threatened to buckle her.
“However, I’m aware you’ve been operating under mental duress lately. Because of that and your record, I’m prepared to offer leniency. I will report your behavior to your commander and let him decide what your punishment will be. Understood?”
She more than understood. She’d been granted a temporary reprieve that she did not entirely deserve. She could still face severe consequences, but not right now. “Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”
“And I don’t want to see you fraternizing with that ensign—or any other—again, do you hear?”
“Yes, sir,” Kylie said, barely able to meet his gaze.
The admiral, finished with her, turned on his heels and marched away, leaving Kylie to seethe in her own shame.
Her parents had been right all those years ago. She had awful judgment, and she should never be left to her own devices. She was an incompetent fool. Worse, her superiors knew it, too.
Kicking herself every way she knew how, she went upstairs to end her fling with Drew.
KYLIE WATCHED the people on the dance floor, her own body still soaked in sweat. She and Drew had danced until her feet, clad in strappy high-heeled sandals, couldn’t take any more, and now they were sitting at the bar having a drink.
She’d spent the afternoon since talking to Admiral Dunmead feeling miserable, knowing she’d have to leave Hawaii and all the comfort she’d found there with Drew. He’d been so concerned for her that she hadn’t had the heart to tell him they were over. Cowardly, she knew, but her low spirits had needed the care that only Drew gave her. Tomorrow, she promised herself. She’d tell him tomorrow. For tonight she’d absorb every last drop of enjoyment she could. It wasn’t likely the admiral would be here at this club, so she could have some fun.
Except, she didn’t seem able to escape her thoughts. They cycled through her demolished career to breaking the news they were over to Drew. She wasn’t sure she’d even be able to say those words aloud.
She was so very grateful to him for helping her heal. The thought of hurting him now tortured her.
And he would be hurt. She’d sensed he had a lot invested in this fling, although she’d managed to skirt most attempts to discuss what was between them. Still, he’d done nothing to deserve it.
Forcing the gloomy thoughts away, she sipped her beer and elbowed Drew. “I had no idea you had such rhythm,” she teased.
“I don’t like to reveal all my tricks in one shot.”
“You certainly don’t need a strategy for how to impress the girls.”
He pulled her close. “There’s only one girl I’m interested in impressing, and I’ve got my hand on her thigh right now.”
Kylie looked down at his hand creeping up under the hem of her dress. “Be careful what you start,” she warned.
He smiled mischievously. “Be careful what you promise.”
She felt a slight warmness in her cheeks. With little provocation she knew he’d drag her into the nearest bathroom to have his way with her.
Next to them, a drunken man raised his voice at someone else, then stumbled sideways into Kylie.
When he didn’t apologize, Drew put his hand on the man’s arm and held him firmly. “Watch it, man.”
“Oh, sorry,” the guy slurred, then turned his attention back to the guy he’d been talking to.
“Pretty rowdy crowd in here tonight,” Kylie said, glancing around the busy bar.
On the stage across the room, a cover band played dance music, and the enthusiastic group on the dance floor had spilled into the rest of the bar, creating a wild energy in the place.
“You want to get a little fresh air?” Drew asked, and Kylie gratefully nodded.
She followed him through the crowd to the lobby, where they got their hands stamped and ducked outside into the sultry evening air. It wasn’t that much cooler, but the relative quiet and lack of people were a relief to her senses.
No sooner had they escaped the noise, though, than a buzzing sound came from Drew’s pocket. He pulled out his cell phone and looked at the display.
“It’s the friend who’s watching my cat. I’d better answer,” he said, then flipped open the phone and said, “Hey, man, what’s up?”
Kylie started to turn her attention elsewhere to give him some privacy, but she couldn’t help listening in a little bit.
�
��It’s awesome. I’m having the time of my life.”
He was?
“Yeah, hey, it’s good to hear from you, but I’m kind of in the middle of something…No, I’m here alone…How’s Lola?”
Lola? Was that his cat?
“Is she eating her prescription food okay?”
Definitely the cat. Kylie tried not to smile at his choice of names as she walked ahead of him. The breeze did a wonderful job of cooling her skin. She was wearing a little green sundress with spaghetti straps that crisscrossed her back multiple times, and a pair of gold heels that were going to be the death of her feet if she didn’t get out of them soon.
Drew joined her. “That was my friend Justin. You remember him from the bar, right?”
“Yeah, sure. I’ve seen him around the base, too.”
“I have a feeling he suspects something’s up. Ever since that night he’s been pumping me for information about you. He’s convinced something happened between us and doesn’t believe I came on this trip alone.”
“Technically, you did, since we were on different flights. Guess it’s impossible to avoid speculation.”
“You know, he mentioned a story about Seaman Caldwell’s arraignment being on the news today. I haven’t watched any news since the shooting happened.”
“I only did once, and I immediately regretted it.” Seeing the horrific events she’d experienced firsthand reduced to a sensational headline and a few talking points had emphasized the tragedy. She’d been so angry at the way the media treated their lives—hers and the victims’ and the families’—that she’d wanted to throw her TV at the announcer. Perhaps the day would come when she could again view news coverage without the urge to do bodily harm.
“So,” she said, eager to change the subject. “I was eavesdropping on you. Are you really having a great time?”
Drew closed the distance between them. “I really am,” he said and took her into his arms to kiss her. “Can’t you tell?”
“Um, yeah,” she said. “I can tell.”
Kylie closed her eyes and felt a wave of happiness mixed with regret wash through her. When Drew pulled away, she took a deep breath and looked up at the starry sky.
Seducing A S.E.A.L. Page 13
